Russell Crowe and
The Crossing
Monthly Column
August
2002
 This month's column includes two parts:
The
Crossing, starring Crowe and his real-life significant other,
Danielle Spencer, brought to mind three things:
1.
Russell's screen presence.
2.
Australian psyche on World War II heroes.
3.
Russell's place in everyone's lives.
1.
Ten years ago, a natural reaction to this movie would have been “Wow, this actor has screen
presence. I wonder how far
he’ll go.”
This
question has been answered a decade later.
Of course, this is easy to say after-the-fact, but it cannot be denied
that other actors in Crowe's caliber, too, will be discovered.
2.
How does The Crossing show a part of the Australian psyche?
There is a strong sense of the many viewpoints regarding Australian World
War II Heroes. First, there is the viewpoint of the younger
generation. This is shown at the beginning when
Russell and Spencer make fun of his mother and
her dedication to honor the WWII memorial that is dedicated to her
husband. This frustration of the "worshipping" of these
heroes is shown when Russell smashes the wreath against the
memorial. Instead of finding comfort in his father during a time
when Spencer has revealed she doesn't want to get married, Russell instead
shows his anger at the memorial. However, at the end, Russell
is shown that he has joined the military because his life was completely
changed at the train crossing. This shows how his previous view of
his father's "heroism" has changed into respect.
Furthermore,
the movie shows a scene of WWII veterans marching in a parade and how the
small town takes great pride in this. As a "society/small
town" this is a great tradition to be proud of. However, the
movie does also show how the "love troubles" of Russell and
Spencer becomes the focus during the parade. So possibly the
director is making this statement of how people's troubles in the present
are just as significant as the "parade."
Another
view is presented in TOFOG's song, Memorial Day. The
grandfather in the story, rather than take part in the parade as a
celebrated and decorated soldier, instead opts not to wear his medal and
watches the parade from the outskirts. Russell finds significance in
this because he writes and sings about. The song shows how the grandfather is
practicing what he believes even if it's not the popular thing to do.
3.
How does Russell place in our lives? This depends on how old the person is that you are asking this question.
Why? Because as teenagers, our actor preferences differ from today, many years
later.
As a teenager, I thought Mark Hamill would go into prolific
moviedom. I never thought it
would be Harrison Ford. But I
am glad Harrison Ford did go on to make many movies including the Indiana
Jones franchise.
To
support my choice of Mark Hamill, he helped “make” Star Wars
and its continuing legacy. My
favorite shot of him is when is he looking out at the suns as they are
going down. He appears to be
dreaming of a bigger world he can take part in, which we all know he
eventually does. This Star Wars legacy continues with Attack
of the Clones. Fortunately, Ewan McGregor gets plenty of screen
time. He is another actor who is worthwhile to watch.
Everyone
has preferences and these
three actors, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Crowe represent
the stars that have a place in my entertainment choices. Many stars have come before and many more will come after.
Hollywood helped “make” them.
There is the cinematographer, the director, the costars, etc. who
added their talents to “make” these stars.
Then there is the writer, who must breathe life and create a world
for the actors, initially--not an easy task.
Even
with all that contribute to the making of a star, one cannot deny that
screen presence (Crowe), the creation of a franchise (Mark Hamill and
Star Wars), and an
identifiable character (Harrison Ford and Indiana Jones) must be considered as
traits that help make a star.
So if one
day, a program will be made to count the top 100 movie stars, not only the
sexy ones, (I’m
surprised one hasn’t been made yet), these three actors will get at
least one vote each, one for my teenage years, one for my college-and-after
years, and one for today, my older years.
They
represent the dreams of youth, the adventure sought after all those years
of schooling, and the inevitable, deeper years.
|
You can spend an afternoon
talking with Russell Crowe! |
Letter
From a Russell Fan
These two letters
are from Rhoda V. McHugh. Her
e-mail is RhodaM41@aol.com.
Rhoda shares her view of why she's a Russell fan and her belief reiterates the many points in the
Russell
Crowe electronic book:
"Good
morning Marina. I have recently bought "The
Sum of Us" and "Hammers Over The Anvil." I have
viewed both of them at least five times and am struck by the beauty of
these two films, each for different reasons. In the "Sum of
Us" the love and dedication between the father and the son touched my
heart, and Russell's quest for someone to love and share his life made me
cry for him. In "Hammers" he was perfection in every
way. The opening scene has got to be one of the most beautiful
scenes in cinema history. Everything is outstanding, his coming out
of the water, his ease of movement with the horses, no hesitation moving
from one horse to another and of course his body was something else.
It played like a beautiful ballet. Whoever filmed that scene should
have won an award, but I believe without Russell it would not have played
the same. My question is, why do you think the movie going audience
and the critics don't address these two movies. "Romper Stomper"
got a lot of hype, rightly so, but these two movies should have made an
impact on Hollywood, the public and the critics. Perhaps it did and
I missed it!!! "Hammers" should be utilized as a teaching
tool. He was perfect in every aspect--and never an acting
lesson! These thoughts are coming from a movies buff of sixty
years. This man is the best thing to come along the movie business
in many many years. If the press would just leave him alone the
public could judge him for his work, which is where the treasure lies."
"You
know Marina, even in the movies he has taken on, that went nowhere, he
stands out. Have you seen "Proof of Life"? Taylor
Hackford did not do his job well. He didn't flesh out the characters
and yet you can't take your eyes off of Russell when he is on
screen. The physicality of the man is beautiful to watch. If
you haven't seen "Virtuosity" yet watch closely there. The
story line was not great, but Russell was outstanding. It was
obvious he was having fun, and he stole the show from Denzel
Washington. He does the John Travolta "Saturday Night
Fever" walk and every part of his body is in perfect rhythm to the
Bee Gees music. I don't believe Russell will ever go Hollywood, and
that will be his cross to bear, because Hollywood is never going to accept
him unless he capitulates. He is a breath of fresh air."
These letters
touch on some of those things that the Crowe
electronic book shares. Get your own copy now!
Incredible Russell
Crowe ebook!
Get your
own copy of The Crossing here:
The
Crossing VHS.
Get your
own copy of Hammers Over the Anvil and Sum of Us here: 
Hammers
Over The Anvil DVD or
VHS. 
The
Sum of Us VHS. Mrs. Fields Original Cookies, Inc
Great Classic Movies Gifts Ideas for Him and for Her |
